KZN Chemical Engineering Graduate Grinds With Farm and Employs 10 People Permanently With Business

KZN Chemical Engineering Graduate Grinds With Farm and Employs 10 People Permanently With Business

  • A young woman in KZN who holds two academic qualifications is persevering with her vegetable farm
  • Welile Gumede has faced many obstacles with her enterprise, with flooding requiring her to make drastic changes to her business
  • Briefly News caught up with the resilient lady, who holds degrees in chemical engineering and one other field

A businesswoman from the rural area of Maphumulo in KZN is working hard every day to ensure her farm is a success.

The lady in KZN is a farmer who has overcome many obstacles and employs 10 people
Welile Gumede from KZN is a vegetable farmer. Image: Supplied.
Source: UGC

Welile Gumede tells Briefly News that she holds qualifications in dental assisting and chemical engineering from Durban University of Technology, but struggled to find work in her fields of study:

“The reason I started farming was because I couldn’t find work as a chemical engineer. I then decided to create an income for myself and my family by starting a farming business.

Read also

Trailblazing woman goes from working in call centre to having baking business

“I was an unemployed graduate working part-time at restaurants to make a living before farming.”

PAY ATTENTION: Have you recorded a funny video or filmed the moment of fame, cool dance, or something bizarre? Inbox your personal video on our Facebook page!

The KZN farmer has weathered many storms

Despite starting her farming business in 2018 in Madundube, due to the KZN floods in 2022, Welile needed to start over at Camperdown:

“I previously employed more than 30 staff members pre-floods. Since rebuilding in Camperdown, I have 10 permanent employees, six students, and created 20 indirect jobs through construction and other services at the farm.”

The entrepreneur notes that peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes are produced on the farm.

The young farmer wants to go into processing

The 32-year-old acknowledges that capital, barriers of entry to markets, labour, and community instability are a few challenges she faces.

Read also

Varsity accounting student shares final-year struggles on TikTok, Mzansi rallies in support

However, Welile still wants to expand her skillset and turn her farm into an empire:

“I want to get into agro-processing and the retail side of the business. I want to be part of the value chain from the garden to your table.”

Soweto Carpenter who makes Wendy houses ventures into vegetable farming to supplement her income

In another inspiring story, Briefly News wrote about a hard-working self-taught carpenter in Soweto who has decided to start an agricultural enterprise.

The young lady makes beautiful Wendy houses, and is an ardent businesswoman.

Talking to Briefly News, Zandile Khumalo explains that since business has been slow, she’s needed to supplement her income through vegetable farming.

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ click on “Recommended for you” and enjoy!

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Kauthar Gool avatar

Kauthar Gool (Women Empowerment Editor) Kauthar Gool has been the Women Empowerment Editor at Briefly News since 2022. She holds a Master of Public Relations and Communication Management from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) (2022) and a Bachelor of Technology in Journalism from CPUT (2019). She has worked at the Fundza Literacy Trust, ITWeb, YOU Magazine, and Cape Argus. She is currently furthering her education in journalism at Stellenbosch University. Reach her at: kauthar.gool@briefly.co.za